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Journalists Who Twitter
Some of the more interesting Twitter feeds to follow come from journalists who use it to build interest in the beat they cover, drive traffic to their own or related articles, connect with sources and build their personal "brand". Here's a lengthy list of journalists who use Twitter. Only found one from Incisive on the list (Theodora Blanchfield, Reporter, IP Law & Business, @tblanchfield) but I assume there are more who use it.
https://twitteringjournalists.pbwiki.com/Media+People+Using+Twitter
A few weeks ago I posted a question as to whether all journalists we hire in the future will need to blog. Maybe I should have asked whether Twitter skills--the ability to express a coherent thought in 140 characters--will be a required tool in a reporter's skill set. Any takers?
Comments
In the spirit of election day, I vote no. Twitter skills should not be a required tool in a reporter's skill set - or blogging either. The focus should remain on interviewing, research and writing skills, without which the ability to use social media is of no value. Content is the one constant in journalism.
An interesting article on the subject:
http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/magazine/spring2008/features/press2.html
Posted by: Deb McLoughlin | November 4, 2008 12:43 PM
We've just added three for our unit:
http://twitter.com/commonscold
http://twitter.com/eddupdate
http://twitter.com/lawtechnology
(lawtechnologynews was too long, and LTN was taken by somebody in Houston)
Bob Ambrogi is writing his "Tweet 16" list about 16 ways lawyers can use Twitter for our Dec LTN issue -- anybody who wants to run it can email me and we'll send you the story (embargoed until 12/1)
Posted by: Monica Bay | November 7, 2008 12:34 PM
I recently attended an event where some of the more famous or at least in their own minds, notorious bloggers spoke about web 2.0 and journalism. I came out of those speeches utterly disgusted by the self-promoting and boasting of the speakers.
The three speakers I listened to (I won't name them since every time I name them, they catch that on their Google Reader and link to the fact that they were named somewhere as a proof of their fame) all claimed that they were getting huge publicity and opportunities to speak in the media because of their blogging and Twittering. When asked if these opportunities led to any direct business, not one of them could point to any dollars.
Even worse, these Twits (or is it Twitterers?) claimed that they were journalists, pointing out a recent earthquake in China was reported first by a Twitter post. In the spirit of good business, I avoided pointing out that just saying something that happened on your Twitter page or blog doesn't make you a journalist.
I've seen the hard work journalists put into getting answers that people don't want to answer or confirming stories with other sources. The stories that come out of that hard work, whether on print or web makes our content news. I think journalists posting Twitterings would diminish the actual idea that our content is of value.
Posted by: Jim Tamietti | November 13, 2008 11:58 AM